Photo: Milrem Robotics, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons (source)
Estonia said Tuesday that Russian special services commissioned an August arson attack on a Tallinn building used by defense robotics company Milrem Robotics, according to an Estonian government statement reported by ERR, Defense News and Breaking Defense.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the Estonian Internal Security Service reached that conclusion after reviewing the intelligence it collected. Speaking of full confidence in the finding, Michal said the Aug. 15 fire was "an act of sabotage commissioned by the special services of the Russian Federation," according to ERR.
A fire broke out overnight Aug. 14–15 at a Milrem site in Tallinn's Lasnamäe district. Crews put it out quickly and no one was hurt, ERR reported. Defense News said investigators handled the blaze as suspected sabotage from day one.
Suspects and company role
Two Latvian citizens suspected of carrying out the arson were detained in Latvia on Aug. 17 and a third the next day; Latvia handed all three over to Estonia on Sept. 17–18, ERR reported. The criminal investigation is continuing, the government said, while adding that preliminary information also indicates the attack was commissioned and that the suspects in custody no longer pose a threat.
Milrem builds the THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle. Defense News reported that 15 units were supporting Ukrainian forces by October 2025 and that more than 150 additional robots are to be sent soon under Dutch funding. Breaking Defense said EDGE Group of the United Arab Emirates holds a majority stake. A Milrem spokesperson told Breaking Defense the arson had no material impact on operations or vehicle deliveries and that any motive was for investigators to establish.
What each side says
Michal called the sabotage part of a broader Russian campaign in Europe aimed at intimidating governments and reducing support for Ukraine, ERR reported. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Estonia would summon Russia's chargé d'affaires and, with allies, increase pressure on Moscow, tighten sanctions and keep supporting Ukraine.
Internal Security Service Director General Margo Palloson said organizations that support Ukraine and defense-industry companies face an elevated threat, and that Russian services continue recruitment and influence efforts in Europe, according to ERR and Defense News.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected the accusation. Defense News quoted him saying such statements are "baseless," have "absolutely no relation to reality," and that Moscow "cannot and will not take such statements seriously." Breaking Defense reported NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Estonia's public attribution and said alliance support for Ukraine would increase, not decrease.
What's next
Tsahkna said Estonia would pursue additional ways to restrict travel by Russian citizens in Europe, according to Defense News. Palloson recommended that companies strengthen physical and cyber protection. The criminal case against the three suspects remains open in Estonia.
Sources
- ERR: Estonia: Russia responsible for arson attack on defense contractor Milrem (2026-09-29)
- Defense News: Estonia blames Russia in arson attack on military robotics firm Milrem (2026-09-29)
- Breaking Defense: Estonia accuses Russia of ordering August arson attack on Milrem (2026-09-29)
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